THE THINGS THAT HOLD US DOWN

- C H A P T E R 11 -

"We have ten minutes left." A voice commented from my left. I looked at the clock which, conveniently, was right in front of me. We didn't have ten minutes left, it was seven.

"Mm." Was all I said in reply, too busy balancing my pen on my finger to have a conversation about the precise amount of minutes we had left of class. A second later, a hand darted out and batted the pen off my finger, sending it flying across the classroom.

"Hey!" I cried, sharply turning my head to frown at the person responsible.

"What?" She says, innocently inspecting her flawless, pale pink nails, "You weren't listening."

"I was listening," I grumbled as I pushed my chair out, walking over to where my pen had landed. I then walked an extra two metres away from where my pen had skidded to, to where the lid of the had landed.

"And I said what exactly?" Whitney rested her hand on the pencil marked desk, tapping her nails on the smooth surface.

"We have ten minutes left." Which was incorrect as it was originally seven.

"Five now, but yes that's right." I glanced and the clock and was marginally surprised to see that this time she had managed to read the clock correctly.

"Hmm." I shut my open notebook, shoved my pens in my bag and piled the rest of the books on top. As soon as I was finished, the zip just pulled shut, the teacher gave the order to pack up. I sat back as the rummaging of books and papers, clicks on pens and zips started, signalling the definite end of the lesson. The bell rung three minutes after, a sound that I had been waiting for since I first arrived at school which was about seven and a half hours ago now.

"Don't you have dance to do?" I asked Whitney as she walked beside me, heading in the opposite direction to where the dance studios were located.

"Oh... um." She stopped suddenly, causing groans from the students inconvenienced either side of us. I pulled on her jumper sleeve, dragging her to the side, instead of blocking the middle of the corridor, "Yeah actually, I do." She straightened out her crumpled sleeve.

"I totally forgot." She continued, staring past me blankly so I was waved a hand in front of her face until she diverted her gaze back to me.

"Yeah, I know, that's why I reminded you." I commented as soon as I was sure that I had her complete attention, "Now, shoo, before you get any later." I switched on my phone to prove my point. It was now seven minutes past four. We had been let out at exactly four.

"It will take you, like, another five or so minutes to walk over there." I slid my phone away and gave her a little push because she still seemed like she hadn't clocked what I was saying to her. Whitney wasn't expecting the movement and stumbled backwards trying to regain her balance.

I laughed at her expression, "Bye Whitney," I called out, walking away before she could push me back.

"I'll get you back for that, Rowan." I turned around to see her menacing expression which crumbled as soon as I grinned at her. "When you're least expecting it." She threatened, sending a grin and a little wave.

"Looking forward to it," I yelled after her retreating form. I turned back and carried on walking, joining the rest of the kids streaming to the exits from the school grounds. I walked down the stairs and through the gates, passing the carpark on my way. I pouted slightly as I gazed over all the shiny cars, wishing I had one of my own so I didn't have to walk all the time. I didn't have the option to get a car and waiting for one of my friends while they did their various afterschool commitments wasn't appealing, especially during the colder seasons.

My mind drifted off onto random topics, not focusing on anything long enough to be truly mindblowing. As I trudged along the pavement I was pulled from my thoughtless thoughts y someone calling my name. I looked up from where I had unknowingly focused on the ground in front of me. I couldn't see anybody looking at me. It was especially hard with the crowds of other kids blocking the majority of my sight but I continued on.